This was the first time Fang Ji had ever encountered such… blatant “stealing.”

Even when Fang Chengyu was stealing his hand-picked brothers and sisters, wasn’t it done secretly and quietly?

Who acted like Qi Xiuyi… like this…

So openly, as if he were treating Fang Chengyu like his own brother?

He was even leading Fang Chengyu around to meet people from other families. What was the difference between that and telling everyone, “Look, Fang Ji can’t take care of his brother properly. Fang Ji isn’t even as close to his new brother as I, Qi Xiuyi, am”?

Many people at the venue knew him.

As he strode through the crowd, many people greeted him:

“Xiao Dingdang!”

“Wow, you’re so quiet without your bells today!”

“A quiet Dingdang isn’t Dingdang, he’s Fang Ji!”

Fang Ji had always been an enthusiastic and likable person.

Therefore, even though he was in no mood to talk to them at all, he still forced a smile and hurriedly greeted them one by one.

“Long time no see! …Yes, yes, that’s my brother… I have something urgent, I’ll find you for a drink later!…”

He rushed through the crowd until he reached the deepest part of the venue.

…

Qi Xiuyi didn’t know if he was just lucky today.

After Qi Wendong’s funeral, he had been in a bad mood and went for a random walk, only to run into someone who bore a three-tenths resemblance to Qi Wendong.

Similar to Qi Wendong, Fang Chengyu was also a long-lost eldest son who had just been accepted back into a wealthy family.

His health also seemed as poor as Qi Wendong’s had been in his last six months.

Add to that the same curly hair that looked incredibly smooth, soft, and tangle-free…

Every time Qi Xiuyi looked at him, he felt a pang of sadness and was reminded of Qi Wendong.

However, he politely refrained from telling the other person this. Instead, after very naturally bringing Fang Chengyu to the funeral banquet, he quietly introduced him to his father.

He told his dad tactfully, “Dad, look, Brother Chengyu is just like Qi Wendong, he was also just welcomed back by his family…”

So shouldn’t we take extra care of him?

But it was obvious his dad didn’t understand his meaning at all.

His dad greeted the person, “Oh, Fang Chengyu, is it? Let me see, very energetic, full of life, very good. The Fang family is blessed.”

Qi Xiuyi: ?

Could you please listen to the strange descriptors you’re using?

Upon arriving at the venue, Qi Xiuyi couldn’t find any trace of Fang Ji.

Well, he couldn’t just leave someone who was three-tenths similar to Qi Wendong standing there alone, could he? What to do? He might as well introduce Fang Chengyu to the people of the capital!

Of course, privately, he had another reason for doing this, besides wanting to help Fang Chengyu get acquainted with everyone in the capital as soon as possible.

Qi Xiuyi reminisced about the past with Fang Chengyu in a casual tone, “Back then, Qi Wendong was just like you, new to the capital, didn’t know anyone. Dad told him to go to a banquet, and he really went by himself, with no one to guide him. If it weren’t for his capabilities, he would have nearly been… by me…”

Qi Xiuyi paused.

Thinking of this, he felt a momentary shame, even wanting to go back in time and slap himself a couple of times!

It was a good thing Yu Zhiqiu and the He family’s new young master had helped pull Qi Wendong away back then. Otherwise, if that waiter had really spilled the hot soup on Qi Wendong, what would he have done…

The thought of this filled Qi Xiuyi with heart-wrenching regret.

But what made him even sadder was that when he remembered this incident a year later and finally realized he had never apologized to Qi Wendong, Qi Wendong had already become a small box, buried in the ground by his own hands.

…He no longer had the chance to tell Qi Wendong.

Qi Xiuyi’s pause was a bit long, so long that he didn’t know how to smooth it over. So he just glossed over it vaguely, “Anyway, if you don’t have someone to guide you at the beginning, it’s not that easy to get familiar with everyone in the circle. You never know when you might offend someone… Some people’s methods are dirty and covert. You might get taken advantage of and not even know who’s targeting you.”

“…But don’t you worry too much either. If you run into any trouble and don’t know who to turn to, just tell me. I can help you…”

Before he could finish, the sound of heavy footsteps came from a distance.

The direction of the footsteps was very clear—they were coming right for them!

Fang Ji’s voice was loud and clear: “Brother Chengyu!”

Fang Chengyu, who had been listening intently to Qi Xiuyi, suddenly stopped and turned his head in surprise. “Xiao Ji!”

Joy filled Fang Chengyu’s eyes, as if he was delighted by the sudden change in Fang Ji’s attitude, signaled by the “Brother Chengyu.”

Fang Ji’s standard sunny smile stiffened for a moment.

What was Fang Chengyu responding to? Couldn’t he tell that this shout was just to show Qi Xiuyi and the surrounding onlookers their relationship? Did Fang Chengyu really think he was willing to treat him as a brother?

But he couldn’t drop the act and stop smiling at this moment.

He walked over with a smile and very naturally inserted himself between Fang Chengyu and Qi Xiuyi.

He grabbed Fang Chengyu’s wrist, pulled him behind himself with a bit of force, and said to Qi Xiuyi with a smile, “Yo, Xiuyi, I didn’t know you were so familiar with my Brother Chengyu.”

Qi Xiuyi saw Fang Chengyu stumble a step from being pulled back by Fang Ji, but Fang Ji didn’t notice his brother’s situation at all, his two wary eyes fixed on him.

Qi Xiuyi was suddenly a little unhappy. “What, do I need to report to you that I know your brother? Are you the older brother or is he? Besides, where were you just now? Brother Chengyu is a stranger in a strange land here in the capital. As his younger brother, you weren’t paying attention. I helped you take care of him, and you’re not even thanking me?”

Fang Ji’s smile vanished in an instant. His eyes widened. “Qi Xiuyi, what are you talking about? How was I not paying attention? I was looking for him from the end of the funeral until just now, and I even waited at the door like an idiot for a long time! You’re the one who brought him in by bypassing the front entrance… Did you know I was waiting there? Did you do it on purpose?”

Fang Ji was aggressive, turning the tables with a counter-accusation, completely unafraid despite the fact that his backers—his parents and siblings—were all abroad, while his opponent’s backer—his father—was right there at the scene.

Although their two families were on good terms, the relationship between the two juniors was indeed not that close.

With just a slight friction, sparks flew between them.

Qi Xiuyi was annoyed. “? What do you mean I did it on purpose? I was clearly just taking care of Brother Chengyu on your behalf!”

Fang Ji’s words were firm. “I’m right here. Why do I need you to take care of him on my behalf? You clearly want to steal a brother from our Fang family!”

Qi Xiuyi was furious. “Why would I steal your family’s brother? I have my own brother! I will only have him as my brother for my entire life! Unlike you, how many brothers and sisters have you been ‘keeping’ outside? Can you even count them? With so many brothers and sisters, are you going to get the relationships mixed up and neglect Brother Chengyu, making him feel wronged in your house?”

Fang Ji: “How could I…!”

Just then, a cool hand grabbed Fang Ji’s wrist from behind.

Fang Chengyu walked forward with a gentle smile, moving past Fang Ji to stand between the two, pushing them apart with a hand on each.

Fang Chengyu: “What’s the big deal? Why are you two arguing?”

He looked gently to his right. “Xiuyi, thank you for letting me hitch a ride just now and for introducing me to so many friends. When I have the chance, I’ll treat you to a meal. I’d like to learn more about the capital from you.”

Then he turned and held his own brother’s hand, smiling sincerely. “Xiao Ji, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were waiting for me at the front door. If I had known, I wouldn’t have saved those few minutes by having Xiuyi take me through the back. Big brother apologizes to you. How about I prepare a gift for Xiao Ji when we get back to show my apology?”

Fang Chengyu spoke in a soft, gentle voice. His pace was slow, his tone light, like a fine spring rain that silently extinguished the two small sparks.

Qi Xiuyi had more patience for Fang Chengyu than for others.

Just as he had treated Qi Wendong when he was sick, many things he couldn’t tolerate when Qi Wendong was healthy, he would never argue with him about during his illness.

Qi Xiuyi said coolly, “Fang Ji, you have a good brother. I advise you to clean up that pile of brothers and sisters of yours soon, or you’ll have regrets later!”

Fang Ji snorted heavily and did not respond.

He knew that in a public setting, especially under the watchful eye of the other’s parent, it wasn’t good to continue arguing about such a topic with a Qi Xiuyi who had just lost his brother.

He didn’t mean anything else by it!

He just simply felt that he, a person with countless paid-for siblings and three blood-related ones, including a new real brother standing right beside him, shouldn’t bicker too much with a Qi Xiuyi who had zero brothers.

He raised his hand and draped it over Fang Chengyu’s shoulder. The movement was stiff, his heart full of resistance, but he didn’t pull his hand back. He just wanted to use this gesture to show Qi Xiuyi their relationship.

Fang Ji gave a standard smile. “Let’s go, brother. When you want to have a meal with him, just let me know, and I’ll take you there.”

…

As an investment target chosen by Qi Wendong, He Wenyan of course also attended Qi Wendong’s funeral.

Lin Ruyan came with him and started crying on the way there. At the funeral site, he covered his mouth, using all his strength not to cry so loudly that he would disturb others.

He Wenyan was also heavy-hearted, his eyes moist.

But he was a man who cared about his image. To cry out loud like Lin Ruyan in front of all these people from his former circle, he would rather find a block of tofu and smash his head on it.

He only showed a little bit of his true feelings to the tombstone when he went up to place his bouquet of flowers.

But when he stood up after putting down the flowers, all his emotions were naturally contained within him, not showing a hint of it to others.

He certainly wouldn’t take Lin Ruyan to the banquet afterwards.

As soon as the funeral ended, he took the once-again tearful Lin Ruyan and took a detour to leave the cemetery.

On their way out of the cemetery, He Wenyan suddenly saw two figures in the distance. He recognized one of them, Qi Xiuyi. The other long-haired figure seemed very unfamiliar.

But this unfamiliarity only lasted for the first glance.

He had just looked away when his brain, as if having discovered something extraordinary, instantly made his head whip back, staring straight at the unfamiliar long-haired figure.

Lin Ruyan sobbed and turned his head. “Mr. He?”

He Wenyan: “…”

He Wenyan was uncertain. “I think… I think I saw someone who looks a lot like Qi Wendong.”

Lin Ruyan: “?”

Hearing this, Lin Ruyan hurriedly turned his head to look. “Where?”

He Wenyan: “The one next to Qi Xiuyi… okay, they don’t look alike at all. But look at those eyes…”

Lin Ruyan’s spirits fell again, disappointed. “Oh, so it’s just the eyes that are similar.”

He Wenyan glanced at him. “What’s with that expression? Haven’t you heard that ‘the eyes are the windows to the soul’? To have such a resemblance…”

He Wenyan hesitated, muttering to himself in a low voice, “Did I see a ghost? … No, where would a ghost come from? … But what if Qi Wendong had some unfulfilled wishes before he died, and his resentment was so strong that his soul lingered in the human world? … Could it be the thirty million that hasn’t broken even yet? Or is it because I still haven’t contacted his ‘life-saving benefactor’?”

The more He Wenyan thought, the more it made sense. His brow furrowed tightly, and he quickly led Lin Ruyan to the car.

He Wenyan: “Let’s go, Xiao Yan. Come back with me and work some overtime. Let’s summarize our work from this period. In a little while, I’ll take you to meet… a new friend of mine.”

…

Although Fang Ji had fought with Qi Xiuyi over Fang Chengyu at the Qi family’s funeral banquet, in reality, after he “won” Fang Chengyu back and properly fulfilled his responsibility as the “local younger brother” by introducing him to everyone at the banquet, Fang Ji immediately gave Fang Chengyu the cold shoulder again on the way home.

Fang Chengyu once again looked at him with a hurt and bewildered expression.

Fang Ji gritted his teeth and said directly to Fang Chengyu, “Fang Chengyu, tell me honestly, how did you trick all my brothers and sisters into attending that lecture of yours?”

“You did it on purpose, right? … You must have done it on purpose! Otherwise, how could the one or two dozen brothers and sisters I had left at school all simultaneously, as if they were cheating on me, secretly go to listen to your stupid lecture behind my back?”

“Confess, Fang Chengyu. What exactly did you promise them? If you don’t confess and don’t apologize, don’t you dare dream of me ever calling you ‘brother’ again!”

As Fang Ji spoke, his anger and sense of grievance grew. By the end, he was even yelling at Fang Chengyu.

But Fang Chengyu remained just as innocent and bewildered, still insisting on explaining, “But I don’t know the people you’re talking about. The reason I held that lecture was entirely because the academic affairs office wanted me to…”

Fang Ji cut him off directly. “Do you think you’re RMB, Fang Chengyu?! You hold one off-campus lecture, and all the upperclassmen on my list, regardless of their grades, were seduced by you. Are you going to tell me that’s a coincidence?!”

They happened to arrive home just then. Fang Ji, disappointed and furious, opened the car door and said coldly to the person inside, “You’ve disappointed me greatly, Fang Chengyu. My brother and sister are busy, I can understand that they don’t have time for me. The brothers and sisters I acknowledged outside aren’t related to me by blood, they came for money and they’ll leave for money, I can understand that too.”

“But why did you do this? Did you deliberately target me because I’m your brother? … I’ve given you many chances, Fang Chengyu! You still refuse to confess to me. You-you hypocrite, I don’t want you as my brother!”

Fang Ji yelled, slammed the car door shut, and ran back into the house, his figure disappearing from the sight of the person in the car.

He left behind a stunned-looking Fang Chengyu and a middle-aged butler with a headache.

The middle-aged butler hesitated before speaking, “Young Master…”

Fang Chengyu clutched his chest, his face looking faintly unwell.

He said dejectedly, “I’ll go out after he gets back to his room… Uncle, can you get me a glass of water? I’m a little thirsty.”

The butler asked with some uncertainty, “Young Master, are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

Fang Chengyu immediately lowered his hand and forced a smile at the butler. “No, no, don’t worry, Uncle… Please go get me a glass of water, thank you.”

…

Ever since coming back from the funeral that day and bluntly telling Fang Chengyu of his disgust for his hypocrisy, Fang Ji had not known how to interact with him anymore.

He was now finally on winter break.

So he found a group of friends and filled his schedule to the brim, leaving early and returning late every day. He would go out before Fang Chengyu woke up and come back after Fang Chengyu was asleep, a strategy centered on not seeing each other at all.

If his luck was really bad and they happened to meet, he would just maintain a cold expression and walk past Fang Chengyu, never saying a word to him.

—That’s right.

Fang Ji made a vow to himself.

Until Fang Chengyu took the initiative to apologize and confess everything, he would absolutely not say another word to him!

Fang Ji strictly adhered to his vow. From the start of the holiday until just before the New Year, he spent every day with his friends.

The time spent playing with friends was, of course, happy.

But every day after the fun was over, on the lonely drive home in the spacious, empty car with only the driver and himself, Fang Ji would always feel an intense loneliness and desolation.

He always felt that the laughter and joy of the entire day seemed to have left nothing in his heart. Every day at this time, his heart was still empty.

Every day, he would share interesting things with his parents, brother, and sister in the family group chat.

They rarely replied. Most of the time, the group chat was just him spamming messages.

He also often called his parents, brother, and sister. In the past, once every month or two, his family would find ten minutes to chat with him.

At other times, they would at least exchange a few sentences, and it wasn’t hard to get a one-minute phone call.

But recently, perhaps his family was too busy. Every call Fang Ji made to them, every attempt to start a conversation, would end abruptly in less than ten seconds due to their busyness.

Fang Ji was extremely dejected about this.

…It was almost Chinese New Year, tomorrow was New Year’s Eve.

Fang Ji propped his head up melancholically in the car on the way home, gazing at the bustling night view of the capital.

It seemed that his parents, brother, and sister definitely wouldn’t be coming home for the New Year this year.

Another New Year spent guarding the house alone.

As this thought emerged, another idea suddenly bubbled up from the sea of his subconscious—

No, there was one more person at home this year, Fang Chengyu.

The thought of him made Fang Ji’s heart feel heavy.

He was a little angry. It had been so many days, why wouldn’t Fang Chengyu just confess and apologize to him?

Perhaps the loneliness in his heart was too strong, too empty at this moment.

Fang Ji felt as if a monster was opening its mouth wide in his heart, trying to swallow everything he had.

Fang Ji walked through the lit but silent house, with only the sound of his own bells and the clinking of his jewelry playing in the air.

He slowly walked up the stairs. When he passed the second floor, he paused his steps, glanced at Fang Chengyu’s room—the door was tightly closed. It seemed he had gone to bed early.

Tomorrow was New Year’s Eve.

On New Year’s Eve, his group of friends all had things to do with their own families. Only he, because his family didn’t celebrate the holiday, seemed so empty and bored.

A hesitant thought suddenly popped into Fang Ji’s mind.

How about… not going out tomorrow?

Just stay at home for a day, and while I’m at it, see what Fang Chengyu does at home all day?

Fang Ji quickly made this decision.

For a moment, he didn’t know why, but he found himself somewhat looking forward to tomorrow.

However, the next day when he woke up, he opened his eyes, went out, and saw no sign of Fang Chengyu.

Fang Ji had a bad feeling and asked the butler, “Where’s Fang Chengyu?”

The butler replied, “Young Master, the Eldest Young Master has something to do during the day, so he has gone out.”

Fang Ji: …

Damn it.

He has something to do during the day, so he’s out for the day?

This is New Year’s Eve!

He had gone through so much trouble last night to decide to stay home today, wanting to spend a rare day with Fang Chengyu. And Fang Chengyu? He could have gone out any other day, why did he have to choose today to go out?